Verbena plant named ‘Kiesel UCP’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Kiesel UCP’, characterized by its compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit; dark green leaves; and purple-colored flowers with light green “eye”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Kiesel UCP’.

The new Verbena was discovered by the Inventor in 1997 as a naturally-occurring branch mutation of an unnamed Verbena hybrida seedling selection in a greenhouse in Venhuizen, The Netherlands. The new Verbena was selected by the Inventor on the basis of its unique flower color and compact growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings taken in a controlled environment in Venhuizen, The Netherlands, since the winter of 1998, has shown that the unique features of this new Verbena are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Kiesel UCP’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Kiesel UCP’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit.

2. Freely branching habit.

3. Dark green leaves; densely foliated.

4. Purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Verbena differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent in flower color and plant habit.

The new Verbena can be compared to the Verbena hybrida cultivar Calvado Scarlet, not patented. However, in side-by-side comparisons conducted by the Inventor in Venhuizen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Verbena differ from plants of the cultivar Calvado Scarlet in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Verbena are more spreading and not as trailing as plants of the cultivar Calvado Scarlet.

2. Plants of the new Verbena are stronger than plants of the cultivar Calvado Scarlet.

3. Flower color of plants of the new Verbena is more intense than flower color of plants of the cultivar Calvado Scarlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Verbena.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Kiesel UCP’ grown in a 15-cm container for about 14 weeks.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical developing inflorescences, upper and lateral surfaces of typical inflorescences, and upper and lower surfaces of typical leaves of ‘Kiesel UCP’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The cultivar Kiesel UCP has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, water status, and fertilizer rates without, however, any variance in genotype. The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown in Lompoc, Calif., under commercial practice during the summer and autumn in a polycarbonate-covered greenhouse with day temperatures about 24 to 29° C., night temperatures about 16 to 18° C. and light levels about 5,000 to 9,000 foot-candles. Unrooted cuttings were directly planted in 15-cm containers and grown for about 14 weeks and pinched twice.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Verbena hybrida cultivar Kiesel UCP.

Parentage: Naturally-occurring branch mutation of unnamed Verbena hybrida seedling selection.

Propagation:

Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About 14 days at 22° C. Winter: About 21 days at 22° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner.—Summer: About 21 days at 22° C. Winter: About 24 days at 22° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous, white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

General appearance.—Compact, mounded and outwardly spreading plant habit. Appropriate for 15-cm and larger containers.

Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous and freely-branching with about 7 lateral branches, dense and bushy growth. Pinching, that is, removal of the terminal apices, enhances branching with lateral branches potentially forming at every node.

Crop time.—About 10 to 14 weeks are required to produce a finished flowering plant from planting an unrooted cutting in a 15-cm pot.

Plant height.—About 12 cm.

Plant diameter or spread.—About 54 cm.

Lateral branches.—Length: About 29 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 3.5 cm. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.

Foliage description.—Leaves simple, opposite; generally symmetrical. Quantity: Densely foliated, about 24 leaves per lateral branch. Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 2.5 cm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Acute. Margin: Irregularly crenate. Texture: Coarse; both surfaces, pubescent. Venation pattern: Pinnate, netted. Color: Young and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A; venation, 147C. Young and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B; venation, 147C. Petiole: Length: About 8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Color: 147D.

Flower description:

Flower type and habit.—Single upright salverform purple-colored flowers with light green “eye” arranged on terminal racemes; flowers sessile. Freely flowering with about 30 flower per raceme. Inflorescences positioned above and beyond the foliage. Flowers last about 4 or 5 days under greenhouse conditions. Flowers persistent. Flowers not fragrant.

Flowering season.—In the garden, flowering is continuous from spring until fall.

Flower size.—Diameter: About 1.8 cm. Height: About 2.4 cm. Tube length: About 1.8 cm. Throat diameter: About 2 mm.

Flower buds.—Rate of opening, from showing color to fully open flower: About 1 to 2 days. Length, at stage of showing color: About 2 cm. Diameter, at stage of showing color: About 4.5 mm. Shape: Tubular. Color: 77A to 77B.

Petals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five per flower fused at base. Lobe length: About 8 mm. Lobe width: About 7 mm. Shape: Rounded. Apex: Emarginate. Margin: Entire. Texture: Velvety, smooth. Color: When opening, upper surface: Somewhat brighter than 61A. When opening, lower surface: 77B. Fully opened, upper surface: Somewhat brighter and more red than 61A; with subsequent development, 71A. Fully opened, lower surface: Towards apices, 80B; towards tube, 155D. Throat: Towards base, 144D, towards petal lobes, 155C. Tube: Close to 155D.

Sepals.—Quantity/arrangement: Five, fused into a tube. Calyx length: About 1 cm. Calyx diameter: About 3 mm. Shape: Elongated. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Coarse; both surfaces, pubescent. Color: Upper surface: 147C. Lower surface: 147D.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Four. Anther shape: Ovoid. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther color: 144C. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 144C. Pistils: Quantity: One. Pistil length: About 1.8 cm. Stigma shape: Bi-lobed. Stigma color: 144B. Style length: About 1.6 cm. Style color: 144D. Ovary color: 144C.

Seed.—None observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Verbena have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Verbena. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant named ‘Kiesel 